The west of the Mulshi dam is the Mawal of Korbarase. The forts Korigad and Ghangad lay in this region. They built Korigad near Savashni Ghat, which connects Lonavala and Pali. This fort is well known for its fortification, which is still intact. To visit the forts in this region, one needs at least 3-4 days of leisure. One can also go for a cross-country trek which includes Korigad, Ghangad, Tailbaila Walls, Sudhagad and Sarasgad.
Korigad Fort History:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha ruler incorporated Korigad, Lohagad, Visapur, Tung and Tikona in 1657. The Pant Secretary took over this fort in the year 1700, as mentioned in historical records. The Peshwas later captured the fort and used it for government detention.
On 11th March 1818, Colonel Brother of the British Empire tried to take over this fort by laying a siege. The siege was prolonged yet he had no success. He finally succeeded by igniting the ammunition with a cannonball. Korigad fort fell into the hands of the British. The fort gets its name from the temple of Goddess Korai,
which is located inside the fort and can be seen from there.
Geography:
The fort stands tall at 3028 ft above sea level and over 660 ft higher than the neighboring valleys. There are two lakes on top of the fort and they are said to be not fit for drinking.
Rock cut steps lead you to the fort. The fort has a huge plateau on top where the two lakes reside. There is a temple of Koraidevi and many other temples of Vishnu and Shiva.
How to reach:
We recommend taking your personal vehicle to reach here and park it near the village. If you are traveling by train, you can reach Lonavala via Indrayani Express. From Lonavala, shared rickshaws, private cabs and buses going towards Aamby Valley can drop you here. State Transport (ST buses) are also available from Lonavala. Take any ST bus going towards Ambavane/Bhamburde or Aamby Valley and get down at Peth-Shahapur.
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